CBSE Class 11 English Hornbill: The Portrait of a Lady - NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 11 PDF

This chapter, 'The Portrait of a Lady,' delves into the profound and evolving relationship between the author and his grandmother. The NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1 provide a detailed exploration of the three distinct phases of their bond, from their inseparable village life to their gradual emotional distance as the author grew up and moved away for studies. The solutions also shed light on the grandmother's traditional values, her discomfort with modern education, and her quiet acceptance of solitude. Furthermore, they describe her final days, her unique way of bidding farewell, and the poignant sorrow of the sparrows, her constant companions. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the nuances of the narrative, understand character development, and prepare effectively for their examinations by offering clear explanations and insights into the text.

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Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 11
SubjectEnglish Hornbill
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 1

Chapter summary

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 1, 'The Portrait of a Lady,' focuses on understanding the text. It covers the evolving relationship between the author and his grandmother through different life stages, the grandmother's traditional perspective on education, her daily routines, and her peaceful demise. The solutions also highlight the symbolic expression of grief by the sparrows, offering a comprehensive textual analysis for students.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the evolving relationship between the author and his grandmother across different life stages.
  • Identify the grandmother's traditional values and her perspective on modern education.
  • Analyze the grandmother's daily routines and her spiritual inclinations.
  • Interpret the symbolic meaning of the sparrows' behavior after the grandmother's death.
  • Explain the author's feelings and observations about his grandmother.
  • Summarize the key events and emotional arc of the chapter.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Author-Grandmother Relationship
  • Phases of Relationship
  • Village Life vs. City Life
  • Grandmother's Traditional Values
  • Grandmother's Daily Routine
  • Spiritual Practices
  • Grandmother's Demise
  • Symbolism of Sparrows
  • Textual Analysis
  • Character Sketch of Grandmother

Important topics

  • Evolution of the author-grandmother relationship
  • Grandmother's perspective on education and modernity
  • Significance of the sparrows' mourning
  • Grandmother's acceptance of her final days
  • Thematic elements of love, tradition, and change

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Questions and Solutions

1. The three phases of the author's relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.

The three phases of the author's relationship with his grandmother before he left the country to study abroad.
Solution: The author's relationship with his grandmother evolved through three distinct phases before he went abroad for further studies:
  1. Village Life: During their time in the village, the author and his grandmother shared an extremely close and inseparable bond. She was his constant companion and caregiver.
  2. Transition to the City: Upon moving to the city, their time together began to diminish. The author attended an English school where his grandmother could not accompany him, and the subjects taught were unfamiliar to her.
  3. College Life: When the author went to college and was given a separate room, the common thread of their friendship was further weakened. The grandmother accepted her increasing seclusion with quiet dignity and focused more on her spiritual practices.

2. Three reasons why the author's grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.

Three reasons why the author's grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.
Solution: The author's grandmother was disturbed when he began attending the city school for three primary reasons:
  1. Inability to Accompany Him: The city school was a modern institution, and she could not accompany him there as she had in the village. This physical separation marked the beginning of their reduced interaction.
  2. Unfamiliar Subjects: When the author returned from school, he would discuss topics related to Western science. These subjects were completely alien to his grandmother, and she could not comprehend them, creating a gap in their communication.
  3. Lack of Religious Content: The curriculum of the city school did not include any mention of God or religious teachings, which were central to the grandmother's traditional worldview and values. This absence further contributed to her unease.

3. Three ways in which the author's grandmother spent her days after he grew up.

Three ways in which the author's grandmother spent her days after he grew up.
Solution: After the author grew up and their interactions became less frequent, his grandmother occupied her days in the following ways:
  1. Spinning: She would spend a significant portion of her day spinning on her spinning wheel, a quiet and continuous activity.
  2. Reciting Prayers: She consistently recited her prayers, finding solace and purpose in her spiritual routine.
  3. Feeding Sparrows: In the evenings, she would take a short break from her spinning and prayers to feed the sparrows in the verandah, an activity she seemed to cherish.

4. The odd way in which the author's grandmother behaved just before she died.

The odd way in which the author's grandmother behaved just before she died.
Solution: In the hours preceding her death, the author's grandmother exhibited unusual behavior that signaled her acceptance of her impending end. She stopped praying, which was her constant habit. Instead, she gathered the women of the neighborhood and, for the first time in many years, sang songs that traditionally welcomed the homecoming of warriors. This deviation from her routine, her peaceful demeanor, and her focus on a celebratory song, despite her failing health, indicated that she was not worried about her death but was preparing to leave the world with a sense of closure and perhaps even joy. The next day, she passed away peacefully.

5. The way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author's grandmother died.

The way in which the sparrows expressed their sorrow when the author's grandmother died.
Solution: The sparrows, who were a constant presence and companions to the grandmother, expressed their sorrow in a deeply touching and unusual manner. When the author's mother scattered bread crumbs for them in the evening, after the grandmother's death, the sparrows did not eat them. They sat silently in the verandah, their usual chirping absent. This collective silence and indifference to food demonstrated their mourning and grief over the loss of the person who had cared for them, highlighting the profound bond they shared with the grandmother.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the distinct phases of the author-grandmother relationship.
  • Misinterpreting the grandmother's reasons for being disturbed by city school.
  • Overlooking the significance of the sparrows' reaction.
  • Failing to connect the grandmother's actions in her final days to her character.

Revision tips

  • Create a timeline of the author's relationship with his grandmother.
  • Note down the grandmother's daily activities and spiritual practices.
  • Focus on the emotional transitions described in the text.
  • Consider the symbolic significance of the sparrows.
  • Reread the descriptions of the grandmother's final moments carefully.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was the author's relationship with his grandmother like when they lived in the village?

Q2. Why was the grandmother disturbed when the author started going to a city school?

Q3. Which activity occupied most of the grandmother's day after the author grew up?

Q4. How did the grandmother behave on the day before she died?

Q5. What was the reaction of the sparrows when the grandmother died?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of Chapter 1, 'The Portrait of a Lady'?

The main theme of Chapter 1 is the deep and evolving relationship between the author and his grandmother, highlighting themes of love, tradition, change, and the quiet dignity of old age.

How did the author's relationship with his grandmother change over time?

Initially inseparable in the village, their relationship became distant as the author moved to the city for schooling and later college, with the grandmother accepting her solitude gracefully.

Why was the grandmother disturbed by the author's city school education?

She was disturbed because the school was modern, taught subjects like western science she couldn't understand, and did not include religious or spiritual teachings she valued.

What does the grandmother's interaction with the sparrows reveal about her?

Her daily habit of feeding sparrows shows her kindness, compassion, and her ability to find companionship even in her old age and seclusion.

How is the grandmother's death portrayed in the chapter?

Her death is portrayed as peaceful. She spent her last moments in prayer, and the sparrows' silent mourning on her demise adds a poignant touch to the narrative.

What is the significance of the sparrows' reaction to the grandmother's death?

The sparrows' silent vigil and refusal of food symbolize their deep connection with the grandmother and express a collective, unspoken grief, mirroring the profound loss felt by the author's family.

Important links

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